Jakob and Frieda

Jakob and his wife Frieda flee to Switzerland
in August 1939. From there they want to go to Oskar in Great Britain via
France and ultimately to move to the USA. The outbreak of war prevents
them from realising their plans.

Life in Switzerland for Jewish refugees is not easy.
However, Jakob and Frieda are able to avoid going into a hostel and live
in a private apartment. As refugees are not allowed to work, the near
penniless couple have to rely on support from Jewish charities. Jakob
is required to perform community service from 1940 until 1946 with few
breaks in between.

A Zurich benefactor, Jakob Sussmann, enables him to
train as a silk weaver for a year during 1942/43. Frieda is employed as
a domestic maid and is able to live together with her son Markus who was
born in 1941. She is lucky as many other refugee mothers are separated
from their children.

Jakob can correspond from neutral Switzerland with all
the family and to pass on news between them. After the death of his father
in Buchenwald, as the oldest brother he takes on the role of head of the
family.